Husband Jailed For Letting Wife Starve
Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 2:40 pm
hello the rains stopped (at last) its a nice night and here we are at the keyboard again for another dose of grumpy medicine.
A 71-year-old man has been jailed for leaving his mentally ill wife to starve to death in "squalid and degrading" conditions.
William Pottinger of Reading, Berkshire, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Gillian Pottinger, 61.
Reading Crown Court heard how he returned home after a day out in June 2006 to find her dead.
Mrs Pottinger suffered from Senile Squalor Syndrome, a condition which meant she lost the ability to look after herself through mental illness.
She had begun to seriously deteriorate mentally in 2000 and when she died, she had not left the house for more than three years.
Mr Pottinger admitted he had allowed his wife to lie on a sofa and waste away in her own bodily excretions
Passing sentence, Judge Christopher Tyrer said: "(Mrs Pottinger's) suffering must have lasted months. Her death was in squalid and degrading circumstances and the distress she suffered in the months before her death does not bear thinking about.
"At any stage in the final months, you could have called for help, but you did not."
He added: "This is quite extraordinary in the 21st century as a set of circumstances."
Detective Superintendent George Turner, who investigated the case for Thames Valley Police, said: "The circumstances of Mrs Pottinger's death are both shocking and tragic in equal measure.
"Bill Pottinger's conviction and sentencing for manslaughter has ensured his part in Mrs Pottinger's death has finally been acknowledged."
Paying tribute to his grandmother, Bradley Lee said: "Lovely Gran. She would give you the last pound she had in her purse. Why was she taken away from us? Rest in peace Nan - all our thoughts are with you."
Grumps view
this to me is a very sad and upsetting story how can this monster do this to his own wife? and why didnt someone contact social services and prevent this tragedy.
as for Judge Christopher Tyrer to sentence him to a mere 18 months for manslaughter makes him as bad as the man he sentenced.
pottinger should be serving between 10 years and life and shouldnt see the outside world again.
he will have to live with what he has done for the remainder of his life whats actually left of it being 71 but does his age entitle him to any pity ?
not in my book my sympathy and heart goes out to the late gillian pottinger but at least she is in a better place away from her illness and monsters like bill pottinger.
AAG
A 71-year-old man has been jailed for leaving his mentally ill wife to starve to death in "squalid and degrading" conditions.
William Pottinger of Reading, Berkshire, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Gillian Pottinger, 61.
Reading Crown Court heard how he returned home after a day out in June 2006 to find her dead.
Mrs Pottinger suffered from Senile Squalor Syndrome, a condition which meant she lost the ability to look after herself through mental illness.
She had begun to seriously deteriorate mentally in 2000 and when she died, she had not left the house for more than three years.
Mr Pottinger admitted he had allowed his wife to lie on a sofa and waste away in her own bodily excretions
Passing sentence, Judge Christopher Tyrer said: "(Mrs Pottinger's) suffering must have lasted months. Her death was in squalid and degrading circumstances and the distress she suffered in the months before her death does not bear thinking about.
"At any stage in the final months, you could have called for help, but you did not."
He added: "This is quite extraordinary in the 21st century as a set of circumstances."
Detective Superintendent George Turner, who investigated the case for Thames Valley Police, said: "The circumstances of Mrs Pottinger's death are both shocking and tragic in equal measure.
"Bill Pottinger's conviction and sentencing for manslaughter has ensured his part in Mrs Pottinger's death has finally been acknowledged."
Paying tribute to his grandmother, Bradley Lee said: "Lovely Gran. She would give you the last pound she had in her purse. Why was she taken away from us? Rest in peace Nan - all our thoughts are with you."
Grumps view
this to me is a very sad and upsetting story how can this monster do this to his own wife? and why didnt someone contact social services and prevent this tragedy.
as for Judge Christopher Tyrer to sentence him to a mere 18 months for manslaughter makes him as bad as the man he sentenced.
pottinger should be serving between 10 years and life and shouldnt see the outside world again.
he will have to live with what he has done for the remainder of his life whats actually left of it being 71 but does his age entitle him to any pity ?
not in my book my sympathy and heart goes out to the late gillian pottinger but at least she is in a better place away from her illness and monsters like bill pottinger.
AAG
Where the heck was the family?? I check on my mother who lives alone constantly. No one went to the house to see their Mother or Grandmother??